Improved clothes-frame



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES P. MAYHUGH, OF LEITERSBURG, MARYLAND.

IMPRovED CLoTHEsfFRAME.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,762, dated February 24, 1863.

` To alZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, J AMES P. MAYHUGH, of Leitersburg, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clothes- Frames and I do hereby declare the follow- `ingito be a full'and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which* Figure lis a perspective view of the apparatus closed. Fig. 2 is a plan of the saine, as opened for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at a: Fig. 2, showing it partially closed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section at y y, Fig. 2, showing another portion closed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

llhe prominentfeatures of novelty in my invention are the following: First, a peculiar construction and-combination of downwardlyfoldingl arms, some or all of them attached by sliding adjustable or double hinges so as to reduce the height or dimensions within which they may be packed, as will be hereinafter explained; second, a peculiar construction and combination of folding and sliding doors, forming a part of the frame when opened, and of its casing when closed.

That others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its'construction and operation.

A represents a central post supported upon a pedestal, B, which is slotted to receive the lower endsof the side pieces, G C' D D D D', when the frame is closed, as will be hereinafter explained. Each of the sides C C' is provided with a sliding plateor bar, E, connected by screws k, working in slots a, and adapted to hold the said slides in their upper position, either by clamping or by resting in notches a', or by spring catches or pins, or other suitable means. Two, three, or more arms, F F', are attached at their respective ends to the central post, A, and to each of the slides E by horizontal hinges fj', which hinges, wherever needful, may be adapted to slide vertically, as shown at j", the purpose of which will be understood when the operation is de-,

scribed. To each vertical edge of each of the sliding plates E a bar, G, is attached by vertical hinges, so as to adapt it to turn in a horizontal direction. Two, three, or more arms, F2, are attached at their respective ends to each of the vertical bars Gr, and the secondary side pieces, D or D', by horizontal hinges f 2, any or all of which may be adapted to slide vertically, as before described.

H H' are knobs by which to draw the side pieces out to open the apparatus. I I' are buttons to keep them closed when desired.

J J are bolts employed to hold the arms F2 in line and impart strength and rigidity to the apparatus when open.

Operation When it is desired to open the apparatus, the buttons I are rst turned into position to release the side pieces, C, and the said side pieces are then by means of the knobs H drawn out at top and up out ofthe slots in the pedestal B. They may then be drawn .forward andthe slides E at the same time run up until the arms F F' Fz acquire horizontal positions, where they are held by resting the screws h in the notches a' or by other suitable means. The buttons I' are then turned so as to release the secondary side pieces, D D', and the latter are drawn forward at top and up out of the slots in the pedestal,- when the said side pieces may be moved around until the arms F2 are at right angles with the arms F F', as shown in Fig. 2. The bolts J are then advanced to secure the parts in position, and the apparatus is ready for use. To close it the action is simply reversed, the secondary side pieces, C', being iirst folded in against the center post, A, the outer ends of the arms F F' F2 lowered by means of the slides E, and the sides G replaced and secured in position. The sliding hinges afford the necessary end play to permit the lower arms to fold compactly beneath Vthe others and within the dimensions of the casing, but it will be manifest that double hinges or other form of adjustable hinges may be employed with like effect.

It will be manifest that side plates similar in construction to those marked C C' may, with their accessories, be applied over the secondary side plates, D D', and the apparatus thus adapted to open into the form of a cross within a hollow square, .and the same principle may be extended still further by the use of successive arms and standards opening outfroin the side pieces already described.

The following is that which I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The use oi' Vdownwardly-tolding arms, in combination with yielding hinges f', operating in the manner described, to adapt the arms to fold within :L smaller space.

2. The combination of the slides E with the and for the purposes set forth.

3. The general combination of tho center post, A, side plates, O C', and downwardlyfolding arms F F F2, when constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner and for the purposes speeied. t

Witnesses: J. P. MAYHUGH.

J AMES H. .GR1DLEY, OCTAVIUS KNIGHT. 

